A hot new Play Store update just hit the internet. We're now up to version 4.1.6. So far we've spotted a much nicer looking button and wishlist designs, more consistent menu text, and a few minor visual tweaks, like new open/uninstall buttons.

Here's the new content section buttons, which are a lot more inviting than the old designs. The open and uninstall buttons got a slight tweak, too.

I really like the new button designs, but my favorite thing is that they changed "My Wishlist" to "My wishlist" after we all complained about it on Google+. The wishlist UI has switched from a list view to a card style. It's a shame about the varying card heights, though.

The menu buttons for items now list the price of the item next to "buy," and the settings app is light themed instead of dark themed. (thanks jamma)

The Play Store will now warn you about a large update to an app when you are on a mobile data connection. Before it would just happily suck away at your data cap. (Thanks to Jason for the screenshot)

"Update All" will now work for apps with new permissions. You'll get the popup shown in the right picture asking you to approve each new set of permissions. (Thanks Benjamin!)

Check out this sweet new Google+ section. Select profile pictures are shown if people +1ed something, and tapping on them will show a full list.

There's also a new redeem interface for Google Play gift cards.

And, finally, for some strange reason, the update button now says "Update All" even if you only have 1 app that needs updating.

If you'd like to check out the new design for yourself, we've got a copy for you right here.

File Size History

com.android.vending-3.5.19.apk 3.81MB (4,000,309 bytes)

com.android.vending-3.7.11.apk 5.07MB (5,319,551 bytes)

com.android.vending-3.7.13.apk 5.07MB (5,322,241 bytes)

com.android.vending-3.7.15.apk 5.07MB (5,322,517 bytes)

com.android.vending-3.8.15.apk 5.35MB (5,618,814 bytes)

com.android.vending-3.8.17.apk 5.35MB (5,618,730 bytes)

com.android.vending-3.9.16.apk 5.22 MB (5,482,490 bytes)

com.android.vending-3.9.17.apk 5.34 MB (5,610,397 bytes)

com.android.vending-3.10.9.apk 5.87 MB (6,158,861 bytes)

com.android.vending-3.10.10.apk 5.87 MB (6,160,306 bytes)

com.android.vending-3.10.14.apk 5.88 MB (6,174,123 bytes)

com.android.vending-4.0.25.apk 5.89 MB (6,183,354 bytes)

com.android.vending-4.0.26.apk 5.89 MB (6,181,405 bytes)

com.android.vending-4.0.27.apk 5.89 MB (6,181,458 bytes)

com.android.vending-4.1.6.apk 5.75 MB (6,036,474 bytes)

Download

The APK is signed by Google and upgrades your existing Play Store. The cryptographic signature guarantees that the file is safe to install and was not tampered with in any way. Rather than wait for Google to push this download to your devices, which can take weeks, download and install it just like any other APK and enjoy the new Play Store experience.

Ron loves everything related to technology, design, and Google. He always wants to talk about "the big picture" and what's next for Android, and he's not afraid to get knee-deep in an APK for some details. Expect a good eye for detail, lots of research, and some lamenting about how something isn't designed well enough.

I'm still hoping that enough people vote on that filter to bring us a list of bought "paid for" apps haha, but this was a very nice welcome tweaking to the Play Store :)

http://www.theupload.geek.nz/ the Upload

I think they don't want use to see what we have bought in a hope we will buy other stuff. Force us to filter through the store to find apps and hopefully purchase other stuff. Its one of those things everyone wants but their is no economic benefit for Google to yield.

http://twitter.com/TheChrisGlass Chris Glass

Whoah. They fixed the capitalization AND dropped the filesize by 150kB. Are they wizards?

cameron charles

basically yes

http://www.androidpolice.com/author/ron-amadeo/ Ron Amadeo

Smaller letters take up less space. Trust me, I know these things.

http://twitter.com/IamPeePay Tomáš Petrík

LOL

Greg Sanders

To be slightly pedantic, it's the '0's that take up more space, because they are fatter than the '1's. However, one might prefer '0's if your cord connecting your computer is tangled up, because the '1's are kind of pointy!

http://twitter.com/Rage06 RaY [HTC One]

Wish lists has changed as well. Never checked it on the .27 version but went on wishlists on this new build and saw it has a nice thumbnail view to it :)

http://www.androidpolice.com/ Artem Russakovskii

Nice spot, Ryan. Looks a lot nicer. Updating.

http://twitter.com/Rage06 RaY [HTC One]

Ryan? Lol Ray :P

http://www.androidpolice.com/ Artem Russakovskii

Whoops :S

RaY...One merged into Ryan in my head.

nick bowman

The card-style wish list UI has been there since the redesign.

On another note, you guys got my hopes up when you mentioned that the wishlist ui was updated however when I looked I realised that it was the same card design with different heights which have been bugging me for the last few weeks.

nick bowman

Wish lists was updated to thumbnail view in 4.0.25.

I use it almost everyday :)

cameron charles

wow that download maze was ridiculous :S thanks though

http://www.androidpolice.com/ Artem Russakovskii

Better mirrors up now.

http://www.androidheadlines.com/ Alexander Maxham

Teardown coming soon?

http://www.androidpolice.com/ Artem Russakovskii

Still happening if there's stuff left. But if it's just visible changes, we'll just update this post, which we've been doing.

http://www.androidpolice.com/author/ron-amadeo/ Ron Amadeo

It's kind-of happening in this post, right now.

Marat Levit

Can you guys please stop using these stupid spam filled websites to share files? Just open yourself an Amazon Web Services account and use their S3 file hosting. You'll pay peanuts for the actual bandwidth and get a fast and reliable mirror.

http://www.androidpolice.com/ Artem Russakovskii

All the main mirrors are spam-free and fast. The last one, multi-mirror, is there for safety.

Marat Levit

Fair enough. When I first came here only the multi-mirror one was available. Pop-up after pop-up on that site.

Amazon S3 is a good replacement for you guys if you ever think about changing. Just an FYI :)

Freak4Dell

Is there a reason you guys don't just use your own server? Just trying to avoid bandwidth overload?

http://www.androidpolice.com/ Artem Russakovskii

Yeah.

http://www.facebook.com/Shinakuma George Millhouse

Im sorry but I agree those sites are spamarific, The lease obnoxious one was the first mirror

jamma

Settings page is now black text on white as opposed to the old white-on black - looks a lot nicer

I actually don't like the new buttons. Haven't seen those shiny triangles as part of the design language anywhere else.

http://www.androidpolice.com/ Artem Russakovskii

Burn the iShill!

http://www.kovdev.com/ kover

It's made to look like the Google Play logo which has been around for awhile now.

What

They've been in every icon for every Play app.

http://profiles.google.com/bmg1001 Bryan Guerrero

It's also a reminiscent of some of the AOSP wallpapers.

Bleakvision

Now the number of apps with available updates is missing.

Still can only see five apps at once in the my apps list...

http://www.androidpolice.com/ Artem Russakovskii

You're right - used to say Update N, now says Update All.

And I can see 6 on the Note II. Sucker :P

http://twitter.com/Twitteninja Zargh

Just checked to see and noticed "Update all" is still there when there's only one item on the list! Normally you had to do a forced click through to the apps page in order to update lone apps.

http://www.androidpolice.com/ Artem Russakovskii

Nah, 4.0 fixed that. It just said Update 1.

http://twitter.com/Twitteninja Zargh

Hmm, maybe one of those nondescript bug fix releases since the original changed it? I'm sure I remember at least one variant of this version of Play still having that behavior.

Moving on, I noticed the "+1'd by" badge section in this version has been updated to show thumbnails of those in your circles, and a tap on the thumbnails will give you a list of exactly who in your circles +1'd it.

http://www.androidpolice.com/ Artem Russakovskii

You're absolutely right. The +1 area changed completely. I've pinged @ronamadeo:disqus to update the post when he wakes up, for completeness.

http://www.facebook.com/Xhozt Wesley House

damnit the grammar nazis won...

http://www.androidpolice.com/ Artem Russakovskii

#GrammarnaziIOafterpartywhoswithme?

MarcoPolo

I wish they hadn't added the "X" Play Store motif to the buttons; unnecessary visual clutter. Also the wishlist looks awkward. If the cover/icon is square, it should be vertically centered on a white card.

http://www.androidpolice.com/ Artem Russakovskii

Agreed. They should have either cropped it or aligned vertically and centered.

PhilNelwyn

What about sorting the list by type?

http://www.androidpolice.com/ Artem Russakovskii

Yeah, the wishlist is still relatively barebones for my liking.

http://www.facebook.com/james.dickinson.963 James Dickinson

Doesnt the play store update itself or something?

http://twitter.com/Rage06 RaY [HTC One]

Yes it does :)

David Dudovitz

Why can't they turn the navigation into a slide-out sidebar with the new design seen in GEarth, so that all sections are available everywhere?

http://www.androidpolice.com/ Artem Russakovskii

Not there yet, I guess.

http://twitter.com/jordanlong20 Jordan Long

Is it just me or have delta updates been missing for a while?

QwietStorm

Its not just you. I actually meant to ask around about that myself for a while now, but I just forgot. I haven't seen even one person mention it besides you, so I thought maybe it was on my end. Its been at least a couple months since I've had an app download only the update.

erigion

They weren't working for me for weeks. They seemed to have fixed themselves earlier this week.

Abhigyan

Wasn't working for me either, for a long time. But this morning, I got a few updates via delta.

IrishSid

You sure? When I was updating an app it would say 16mb, but it would only download about 2mb then install.
I think they've been working for me anyway.

Jays2Kings

Fun fact the wishlist had the card layout on tablets in the previous version, just not phones.

http://twitter.com/and1945 Andreas Brandenborg

Uhm... yeah. can't press install (not joking)

Jeff Nocom

same here... lol

http://twitter.com/USSENTERNCC1701 USSENTERNCC1701E

In regard to the update all for one app: I think this is great. In the past if you have only one app, you had to click that app, then update, then accept; but for more than one app it was just one click. It really annoyed me anyway.

http://www.androidgeek.in/ Serra Stone

Looks a lot better than the last shitty one.

Benjamin Medina

Seems like apps with new permissions aren't separated into manual updates anymore, you just get the permission pop up for the app if you hit update all. Might be new I hadn't seen that before

http://www.androidpolice.com/ Artem Russakovskii

Thank god. Do you have a screenshot or two of this?

Benjamin Medina

No sorry, realized what happened after I hit ok, pinterest was the app that had the new permission. Let me check my tablet and see if i have an app there

One of my pet peaves since the last major redesign is that open and uninstall buttons are so close together. Even on a Nexus 7, I have to be careful to hit the correct one. It was much easier when they weren't so close.

http://twitter.com/shamus_carter james kendall

I feel you pain. it's a hassle on my tab 2 7.0 as well.

http://www.facebook.com/Shinakuma George Millhouse

agree...what dweeb designed that ??

ac75

Yep, ridiculously small and close together for actions that are so very different.

I wonder if maybe they pull stats on usage and found they don't get pressed much? After all, you can open and uninstall from the app drawer now (4.0+ IIRC) so don't necessarily need to go into the Play Store to do so.

Ivan Petkovic

Uh. I did not make a mistake like that becouse I was careful. And that is the point, I should not be careful, choosing "Open". Agreed, too close together.

rap

When it is actually worse is when it is not open but update or uninstall. I do go to the play store to update all my apps.

Chris

You could open/uninstall apps from the playstore long before the 4.x update.

Someone

Why would you use the Play Store to open applications?

I just use the notifications to launch apps, so I close the Play store after manually pushing through updates.

Chris

Why can't you just open the app from the app drawer like everyone else?

joser116

Time for apk teardown :3

Matthew Edwards

Thanks AP. First with the news as usual :)

Joe Micelli

Is it any less jittery when scrolling on the main page?

Androifi di

does this update come automatically

Raymond Berger

They are slowly rolling it out to users over the next few weeks.

Ittiam

I just got 4.0.27 update.. N7 , india

Daveon Jackson

Allow me to be the first. LOL 69 cent.

Designer_Girl

The search feature is still awful. You can't search through 700,000 apps without a good, powerful, flexible search-engine. Google Play's Searching has NONE of those features.

http://www.facebook.com/Shinakuma George Millhouse

I never have a problem...stop looking for illegal apps to download music illegally? lol

Chris

Sure if you are looking for fart apps. but for REAL, serous apps a proper search is needed.

Aki I.

what was wrong with the dark settings theme?

Chris

Google is afraid all those android nerds in the basements will become depressed with the addational darkness....

Sootie

The credit card adding interface seems different to me also (though it is the first time I have had to update my credit card details for a few years).

Metallinatus

Ok, this is the first time I will install a Play Store APK, so, er.... will the app still get updates naturally? .-.

Windows4ever

yes

Metallinatus

Thank you, I am instaling it right now :)

Jeffrey Smith

From taking a look inside the apk, some of the more boring stuff I see but haven't come up with any screen-shots for: something about password recovery, removal of some Android Market -> Google Play transition stuff, tweaks to malware detection, tweaks to carrier billing...

One little thing I wish they'd fix: on my phone, in the apps section, the 'Editor's Choice' card/button that belongs in the Home tab gets shoved into the Categories tab resulting in this:

http://www.facebook.com/ciprian.gavan Ciprian Gavan

I don't know why, but this is happening to me too... The Play Store from the Pics in this article are not the same as my/your G Play Market... Is it a bug or is it because I'm from Europe?

Ajay Joyson

Hey AP,
the old play store logo also does no longer appear when launching the app (top left corner)

Michael H

I still don't understand why we can't have a "My apps" BUTTON on the main Play Store page like Tablets do... There is plenty of room for it there. Why do I have to click the Menu button, then My apps just to get to the thing I visit the Play Store for the most often - app updates!

http://www.androidpolice.com/ Artem Russakovskii

My pet peeve since I/O 2012. I even asked a few Googlers but wasn't able to get any kind of sensible response.

ppero196

From a developer standpoint they need to change 1 line in /res/menu/ {insert menu name here}.xml
They need to change from ShowAsAction="never" to ShowAsAction="ifRoom"

lerrk

I don't like on thing in v4 of play: why I can't see rating of paid apps in the list, only prize.

woj_tek

my biggest gripe with new version: terrible clours (I simply hate bright green for apps, and this is the only one I see) and tiny buttons for open/install/uninstall - trying to hit them with thingers require WAY more attention than they used to...

Weird. I remember a "card interface" on Google Play Store in the Wishlist section on my Nexus 7. In fact, I remember thinking it looked cool when I saw it. But Wishlist was in the form of a regular list on my phone.

Either I was pushed the Google Play Store already (gotta check that later) or it was a fluke. Also, I have the newer 3.1.x Google Play Framework APK now on my Nexus 7, but none of my other devices do....yet.

http://www.facebook.com/PradeepVizz Pradeep Viswanathan R

I just downloaded the 4.1.6 version to my phone and tablet. Both of the report App data was last synced even before i installed the new play store... so i thought this was a new feature, does not seem to be.. Guess it was a invisible feature gaining visibility.

http://www.kamemmental.fr/ RockAndRock

So beautiful ! :o

anzensepp1987

For me the App-Data-Sync appeared after installing this new version of the PS. Synchronization seems to work fine,

And another change: While cleaning up your Apps within the "All Apps that I ever had installed"-Tab; when selecting multiple Apps at once, the apps that are currently installed cannot be selected accidentally any longer.

yodatom10

its always warned you about large app downloads while on a mobile network. i keep wishing that they would add a i don't care box i have unlimited data stop asking me.

zzz

I liked the old wishlist better since it's easier to scan a list in one direction (up/down) rather than both up/down and left/right.

digi_owl

And still the search result filtering is basically non-existent, nor is there a tab that actually shows recent additions to a app category.

mrsimps

What's the difference between mirrors 1,2,3, & 4?

Chris

nothing. they all offer the same download. Choose one and install.

mrsimps

Thanks!

http://www.facebook.com/rmkattan Rami Kattan

Have you also noticed that installing APK files will show the popup to select whether to open with "Package installer" or "Verify and Install" that opens Play Store and then install.

Have you also noticed that installing APK files will show the popup to select whether to open with "Package installer" or "Verify and Install" that opens Play Store and then install. (check screenshor)

http://www.facebook.com/rmkattan Rami Kattan

Have you also noticed that installing APK files will show the popup to select whether to open with "Package installer" or "Verify and Install" that opens Play Store and then install.

Chris

Didn't get that. must be your end...

http://www.facebook.com/rmkattan Rami Kattan

In addition to the new Play Store, I found that my Google Play Services has been updated too to v 3.1.26 (latest), maybe it was that.

Paul

Nope, isn't related to the Play Services, i constantly deinstall that app since i'm not using any app that would require it.
And i get it, too. I'm on GB 2.3.4 on my xperia ray.

ppero196

I got this too. Nice addition

bluelurker

Could not install the apk.Nothing happens when the install button is clicked.I faced the same problem when i tried to install other 3rd party apks.I have enabled the option from settings to install apps from unknown sources. Still no luck !. I am running jellybean on my galaxy S Advance.

Jānis Skeranskis

If you view a game, they also show now what features this game has!

http://www.mscha.nl/ Michael Schaap

I hate that it's a lot less obvious when an app is updated and sneakily adds spyware permissions (like phone status and identity) – which seems to happen a lot.
Previously those were listed separately, now they look just the same as regular updates, and you have to look carefully to see that it was added.

Sz Gan

When there is an update for an app, the buttons will change to "Open" and "Update" instead of "Open" and "Uninstall".

Sz Gan

When there is an update for an app, the buttons will change to "Open" and "Update" instead of "Update" and "Uninstall".

I dont like the new Play Store becuase:
1. No diffenciation between update and manual updates
2. Icons are too big, I have to scroll longer to find what I want
3. Some names of some apps are not completely visible because eah icon now shows less words

awesome

wat is the latest version of google play

nobudy

Gd

Gendry

I have error in Playstore, Here. Using Nexus 7. Already tried to DL this and install but doesnt work. Still failed to fix this error. I always come landing to this page. And other applications are missing. Please Help me. as i am going nuts. Everytime i press designed for tablets.. it crashes.. categories are now gone. also try to roll it back to the default. but still it has the same error.

Gendry

anyone that can help me?

Indranil Nandi

they need to reduce the size of the app or allow it to be moved to SD card for those with low internal memory phones

Really sad

If i try and download it, chrome just stops. Almost in the same way as my play store does.. All the time.. Wich is the reason my *** phone who i got for only 3 months is a piece of *** that can't do *** anybody please help me, i tried everything!!

sosic408

This is sum bullshyt to all of us that's suffering now or weeks with this stupid update jelly bean crap we should either 1) get a free month service.2) Receive a nice gift that will make us forget that this upgrade even happen(but will still remember)

Jeroen de Zwart

Am I the only one not happy with ""Update All" will now work for apps with new permissions."

I preferred the "old" way where I could update all that had no extra permission requirements and ignore the foolish apps that all of a sudden need to be able to send text messages or w/e for no obvious reason.

Now I constantly need to skip those manually. Thinking of reverting back to an old apk for just that reason.

Other than that I love the new design (but mostly push from a pc anyways)

Adam Margeson

I don't like that apps with added permissions are lumped in with apps that don't require new permissions. It would be far easier to accidentally update an app that I don't want adding permissions (Think: Facebook Home).

ANDREEA

CUM SE DESCARCA

guy79734

My play store just pops up then closes wtf it just started doing this any ideas

Ava

i have a probleme with my play store, when i open play store its crashing beacose of com.android.vending and i dont know what to do...??
help me pliz

Hube

omg thanks

roby23vl

i downloaded the file, install it, but I am stiil having the old look. somebody know why?? i have a HTC ONE X

Yaron

On the app page: No downloads in last 30 days chart, no feature graphic, only 1 review is shown (your review is shown TWICE!) unless you expand the reviews section (And when that's expanded the reviews are cluttered and there is a LOT of unused space), maybe it's just me but looks like they screwed up the +1 count for the app pages

Renan

Can somebody tell me why Google Play Fonts looks so bad?? It is almost impossible to read them!